Edinburgh Award: Work Experience Session One Anthea Main Careers Consultant
Session Plan Introductions What is the Edinburgh Award? How do you achieve it? What skills do you plan to develop? Goal setting and action planning What happens next?
Activity: Introductions - Groups of 2 or 3 2 minute introduction each then swap Name Course/Year Job Title Employer
Your hopes/expectations of the Edinburgh Award?
What is the Edinburgh Award? A university wide scheme with 70+ different versions Recognises and rewards students commitment to extra and co-curricular activities Helps students get the most out of these activities
What is the Edinburgh Award? The University uses the Edinburgh Award: to give additional recognition for students' efforts outside their studies to help students get the most out of these experiences to support our students to stand out from the crowd whatever their future holds Dr Gavin McCabe, Employability Consultant Edinburgh Award Project Manager
What is the Edinburgh Award? Employers want graduates: who are self-aware who capitalise on their strengths who will have impact wherever they work who are committed to personal development and life-long learning who can confidently provide evidence for these claims A degree is not enough?
Graduate Attributes How my thinking impacts myself and the world around me Research & Enquiry Critically evaluating and using information, analyse problems, identify solutions Personal & Intellectual Autonomy Creativity, sustainable goal planning and working towards them Communication Written communication, seeking feedback, collaborating Personal Effectiveness Responsive Inspiring to futures your surroundings, risk taking, time management My unique toolbox
What is the Edinburgh Award (Work Experience)? A 4 month long programme for students with part-time jobs An opportunity to develop 3 skills that graduate employers value A chance to think about developing a mindset where you are consciously trying to contribute and make a positive impact in your part-time work Note: This mindset can apply to your studies, work, other activities your general outlook on life! An opportunity to reflect on what you can gain - and what you can give! Start now by thinking about this in your part-time work
What is the Edinburgh Award (Work Experience)? Session 1: Aspiring In the first stage, you will be asked to identify and understand the skills and abilities you will need to achieve success in your part-time job. You'll refine these down to three main priorities, which you'll aim to develop for the duration of the programme. Session 2: Developing This second stage asks you to reflect on your three development priorities, to consider what you have learned and how you have made these developments during your activity. What impact have you been achieving and how could you increase this? Session 3: Owning The final stage asks you to capitalise on your experiences, to showcase what you have learned to present yourself in the best light. You'll reflect on your three development priorities, ask what gains and impacts you have made and what relevance do they have for the future?
Expectations of you: compulsory elements 1. Work: 65 hours of part-time work 25 of these must be from January onwards Hours will be logged on submissions after Sessions 2 & 3 2. Session Attendance: Attend all 3 face to face sessions 3. Assignments: Skills: 1 x Self-Assessment after Sessions 1, 2 and 3 3 x 200 word submissions (200 words on each chosen skill) after Sessions 2 and 3 Impact 1 x 200 word submission after Sessions 2 and 3 4. Peer Review Peer review up to 8 anonymous submissions following Sessions 2 & 3
The programme schedule Session 1: Mon 9 Oct Submission Deadline: Friday 20 Oct 9am Session 2: Mon 22 Jan 2-4pm Tues 23 Jan 5 7pm Submission Deadline: Wednesday 31 Jan 9am Session 3: Thurs 8 Mar 5 7pm Mon 12 Mar 2 4pm Tues 13 Mar 2 4pm Submission Deadline: Tuesday 20 Mar 12pm mid-day Tues 10 Oct Wed 24 Jan Wed 11 Oct 2 4pm Thurs 12Oct Fri 13 Oct
Peer Review Start of Peer Review 1: Thursday 1 February 9am Submission Deadline: Monday 5 February 5pm Start of Peer Review 2: Wednesday 21 March 9am Submission Deadline: Sunday 25 March 12am midnight
Any questions so far?
Graduate Attributes: plan how YOU can develop these through your part-time work! Research & Enquiry Analysing problems, finding solutions, finding and evaluating information, networking Personal & Intellectual Autonomy Using initiative, decision making, managing challenging situations, reflecting on learning experiences Communication Written communication, seeks feedback, listening effectively, oral communication Personal Effectiveness Planning and organising, resilience, interpersonal skills, harnessing opportunities, professionalism How can you develop these in your part-time work?
What does excellence look like in your setting? An example skill: Using Initiative During the first party night at my work I learned how the tables and serving stations were meant to be set up, and so when it came to the second one I was able to take the initiative and begin laying the tables before I was asked. I also helped devise a system for keeping track of which guests had ordered soup, thus allowing us to serve it more efficiently. I have learned that I don t always need to wait to be asked to do things, but I am perfectly capable of just getting on with it. As I get used to the different types of functions, I am still learning the slight differences in the way things are done. This has helped me to improve relations with other staff members as I now feel happy to assist others as well as ask for help when I m unsure how to do something. I will stop hesitating or checking with the boss before I do anything. I will continue to seek help when I need it in order to learn the system. I hope that this will begin to improve my effectiveness as a staff member.
What does excellence look like in your setting? Activity 10 minutes In groups of 2 or 3 Discuss what skills are necessary to do YOUR part-time work effectively Write down at least 3 skills that would be useful in your part-time work Flip chart sheets have different sectors/roles headings are you doing anything different? When 10 minutes is up I will be looking for suggestions of skills for different roles/sectors
Self-Assessment Activity Reflect on how well you think you perform at these skills You can add more if you think they are directly relevant to your setting Choose three priorities you want to work on for the Award
Self-Assessment 1 - Activity You can rate yourself against the list of skills and choose the skills you want to focus on throughout the Award online now Begin to assess yourself against each of the skills BEFORE YOU SUBMIT: Be sure about which skills you d like to work on throughout the course of the Award programme they can t be changed at a later date! SAVE AS A DRAFT! Complete what you can in this session and save it as a draft to complete later once you have made a final decision Submitting this online is the first compulsory element
Have a plan! Goals can be SMART Specific Is your goal well-defined? Avoid setting unclear or vague objectives; instead be as precise as possible Measurable Be clear how will you know when you have achieved your goal Advantageous (Attainable) Spell out the benefits it will keep you motivated Realistic Within the availability of resources and time Time-bound Set a time scale for completion of each goal
What happens now? Submit Self-Assessment 1 by 9am on Friday 20 th October Ensure you have listed your 3 chosen skills Ensure you have completed your Action Plan which will help you focus on your 3 skills between now and Session 2 Note: you will be expected to write about them after Session 2! By the end of this week you will receive an email with a link to the Edinburgh Award (Work Experience) website which will give you: access to these slides details of Session times and submission deadlines an electronic version of the Action Plan One more thing a research project optional participation
Further resources To read more context around the Edinburgh Award: http://www.employability.ed.ac.uk/student/edinburghaward/ You will find support on reflecting on your experiences: http://www.employability.ed.ac.uk/student/edinburghaward/a ward-reflection.html
Any Questions? Any questions ask us at: csaward@ed.ac.uk Work Experience - in subject line